London's best restaurants & bars

With six hotels in some of the city’s top locations, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection has an exceptional selection of dining and drinks venues. Here, we present the ultimate guide to the best restaurants and bars in London...

Delicious dining

Set in the sophisticated heart of Kensington, the elegant and intimate Cheneston’s derives its name from an early spelling of the prestigious London borough. Contemporary British cuisine, sourced from across the British Isles, is served together with the signature dishes of Beatrice Tollman, Founder, and President of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Rich mahogany furniture, warm wood panelling and natural daylight pouring in through original Victorian leaded windows create a dining room that’s full of character.

Cheneston's, Kensington

With one of Mayfair’s most dynamic and exciting chefs, Nathan Hindmarsh, at the helm, Butlers is inspired by seasonal ingredients and British trends, with elegant dining matched by exceptional service. Carefully sourced produce is used to create British cuisine tempered with international touches. Daily roasts, including leg of Sussex lamb and beef wellington with horseradish cream, are served alongside popular plant-based dishes such as grilled cauliflower steak with truffle. 

The Library, Mayfair

Global cuisine

Recently awarded an AA Rosette, the exquisite Curry Room at The Rubens serves an inspired three-course menu created by Chef Kumar, who, alongside his team will take you on an authentic journey of discovery, blending Indian and African influences. Begin your evening with keema samosa, poppadoms, homemade lime pickle, mango chutney and mint raita, before a choice of traditional Indian curries and a selection of desserts, including Indian-influenced kulfi ice cream. The Curry Room also offers the ever-popular Chef Kumar’s Thali, with a choice of three curries.

The Curry Room, Victoria

The Leopard Bar's personalised sushi and sashimi experiences, created by Chef Suren, are an exceptional introduction to the finest Japanese cuisine, uniquely presented on beautiful tiered stands. Also serving over 200 whiskies and 30 Champagnes against a backdrop of live jazz and swing music, the Leopard Bar’s impressive selection of sushi and sashimi is freshly made to order, and especially delicious when paired the highest quality sake, the most notable of which is the Koto Premium Sake Umeshu, made with the finest Shirakaga plums. 

The Leopard Bar, Victoria

Bar experiences

The Chesterfield’s weekly Gin & Jazz evenings are a Mayfair institution, with the Terrace Bar transformed each Wednesday into an intimate jazz setting. Capturing the elegance of the Art Deco era, the bar is entertained by resident pianist John and his four-piece band, as the mixologist team creates gin cocktails and an extensive collection of gin and tonics. The Terrace Bar is also home to a gin-tasting experience, a rum-tasting experience, and a craft beer and cheese pairing evening, with delicious beers from England’s most notable regional breweries accompanied by Neal’s Yard cheeses.

Gin & Jazz evenings are The Chesterfield are currently unavailable.

The Terrace Bar, Mayfair

The Leopard Bar at The Montague on the Gardens offers a perfect blend of chic traditional British elegance and South African-inspired furnishings, alongside comfortable, quiet and cosy corners. A jazz band plays every Wednesday and Thursday evening, with live music from Monday to Saturday, and the talented bar team also offers a collection of unique experiences, including wine tasting with one of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates, whisky tasting and Champagne Sabrage – the French tradition of opening a Champagne bottle with a cavalry sword.  

The Leopard Bar, Bloomsbury

In the New York Bar, where resident singer Sourya performs, Bar Manager Salvatore Maggio expertly mixes innovative cocktails, and hot and cold infusions, including the hot cocktail siphon – a fragrant mixture infused at your table using a unique brewing method. The signature wagyu steak sandwich, with wagyu steak served with panko breadcrumbs, tonkatsu sauce and triple cooked chips, is a delicious late-night snack.

The New York Bar, Victoria

Hidden gems

Tucked away in an enchanting boutique townhouse, the tiny and cosy Bar at The Egerton is proud to offer London’s finest classic martini masterclass. Guided by the experienced hand of barmen Esley or Sahbi, each cocktail is mixed precisely to your tastes, and served with delicious homemade canapés, including The Egerton’s famous cheese on toast.

The Bar at The Egerton, Knightsbridge

Set in a Grade 11-listed building with beautiful 17th-century architecture, Stables Bar is an intimate and unique hideaway with beautiful artwork and deeply comfortable Chesterfield sofas. Renowned for its signature Smoking Old Fashioned, the bar serves barrel-aged whisky infused with Canadian maple syrup and vodka, presented in a glass dome filled with shisha smoke which releases scents of apple and orange as you lift the lid.

Stables Bar, Kensington

Immersive seasonal pop-ups

From a lively beach bar in the summer to a cosy ski lodge in the colder months, The Montague on the Gardens’ pop-up bar is one of Bloomsbury’s seasonal highlights. Celebrate tropical temperatures with colourful cocktails and a sizzling BBQ, or warm up in a winter wonderland Ski Lodge, all in the heart of London.